6 questions Indian fans need to ask Ravi Shastri 

#2 Why didn't the team play more warm-up games?

The thing that stands out for the Indian side is that they were evidently underprepared. The team went into the first test on the back of only one warm-up game. In a move similar to cancelling a two warm-up games itinerary in South Africa, the team management decided to reduce India's tour game at Essex by a day to a three-day encounter.

In South Africa, the blame fell largely on the BCCI, who barely kept any gap between the home series against Sri Lanka and the flight to the rainbow nation. However, in England, the team was given sufficient time. Between the last ODI and the first test, there was a gap of almost two weeks.

In this case, it is hard to blame Virat Kohli. The Indian captain has started to play International cricket at a time when India has almost stopped playing practice games in lead up to overseas tours. Someone like Saurav Ganguly will tell you how important having at least a couple of practice games before the first test is.

Ravi Shastri himself comes from a time when India played as many warm-up games as test matches. Who better than him to start the tradition of playing a few practice games again in Indian cricket? Something the likes of England and Australia still do. The fact that India's performance was significantly better in the third test in both England and South Africa speaks volumes.

Yes, the opposition's quality or even the pitches are not the same quality in these matches. However, it is still better than having only net sessions. Despite not of the same level, it will give an exposure to a different type of bowlers in alien conditions. Net practice will not give batsman the feeling of scoring runs or bowlers the feeling of taking wickets, practice games will.

On a foreign tour, it's not always about the pitch or who you play but also about getting used to the weather. In England, there is the added factor of adjusting to playing with the Duke Ball. All this is best done in match situations. As they say, match practice is always the best practice.